Warka on the Pilica River 1656-2026

Salvete Omnes, 

On April 7, 1656 near town of Warka on the Pilica River Polish Crown forces consisting of cavalry and dragoons defeated the invading Swedish forces during the so called Deluge or Polish-Swedish war 1655-60 AD.

Polish Crown forces that crossed the flooded Pilica River consisted of some 6,500 men and horses (Crown cavalry banners) whereas  some 5 to 6,000 men and horses stayed on the other side of the river,

The Crown army divided into several pulk commands, the main ones being two:

 1. The Crown marshal Sebastian Lubomirski - crica 1,500 horses and men including 1 banner of his own winged hussars and 2 other winged hussar banners, pulk of  kozak pancerni banners, pulk of   light cavalry, and 2 companies of dragoons . His forces attacked the Swedish main army

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2. voivode of Kijow Stefan Czarniecki - perhaps 3,000 plus division -  who had under his command 1 winged hussar banner and many companies of dragoons, light cavalry, kozak pancerni etc.
Also, about 1000 strong voivodeship of Sandomierz noble militia.

Swedish forces were commanded by Frederic VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach with 'colonel' (Oberstleutnant)  Ritter consisted of cavalry and dragoons - circa 2,500-3,000 men and  horses, plus huge wagon train - some sources say 2,000 wagons and carriages. 

Magrave's forces were also cavalry and dragoons - the  Reiter Cavalry Regiments of Ahlefeld, Waldeck, Siegel, 3 companies from Adolf Johann reiter regiment, and companies  & freicompanies of dragoons. Ritter (who died in action), commander of Radom, led circa 1000 strong dragoon force protecting the huge wagon train, and in the battle he commanded the rearguard. Poles attacked this rearguard as the prelude to the main engagement of two main armies.

Upon destroying of the Ritter's rearguard, Crown Marshal Lubomirski personally led 3 winged hussars banners (500 strong?)  assault on the Swedish cavalry and dragoons. The charge did not break the Swedish companies, but gave time for the other Polish cavalry banners to provide support to the winged hussars and then Czarniecki  sent the Zamoyski winged hussar banner aided by the Wasowicz dragoon regiment to charge the Swedes. Next the winged hussar banners withdrew and upon reforming their ranks and file charged as one lance hedgehog-like 4 banner strong unit. They broke Swedish regiment and companies.. 

Within two hours from the beginning of the battle it was over, our Polish Crown cavalry secured a tactical victory of the Swedish army.  Margrave with many high ranking officers and under the escort of a Finnish company escaped to the Czersk Castle (well, the ruins of it), where they were able to have survived 'till the following morning and only after the Polish Crown cavalry withdrew to the main body of the Crown army, the Swedish commander adnd his stragglers made it to Swedes-held Warsaw. 

enjoy

Valete 

Panthera pardus tulliana - Caucasian Leopard

 Salvete Omnes,

detail from Shahnama Ad 1525

Shota Rustavelli's Knight in the Panther Skin 

We are in la Semana Santa (Holly Week) leading to Jesus Christ Great Friday Crucifixion, and then the pinnacle of Christianity - the  Resurrection on  Easter  Sunday.

There is also the illegal war in western Asia, US & Israel bombing Iran and Iran sending missiles and drones against the American and Israeli assets...  Awfully dangerous conflict, that could lead to the nuclear world war III. There is also war against Christians, war in Ukraine (Russian aggression against the Ukrainian state).

Ad rem, the title of this post is the Latin name for a Caucasian leopard, the Western Asia- Southern Europe subspecies of the great cat. Here about the cat in present day Armenia. eg Pakistan here, 

while looking at the Ilkhanid, Timurid, Safavid and Ottoman miniature illuminations we often see light spotted skins worn by heroes and warriors or soldiers. 

I think the many of these leopard skins in these paintings were made from the hides of the Panthera Tulliana leopard. 

. the hero of Shahnameh

Rustam astride Rakhsh in his leopard hat and tiger fur kaftan 

Rustam in his leopard hat, tiger coat/kaftan and his brave horse Rahksh

even horses were covered in these pelts

Turkish Deli

from Raalamb Costume book - Ottoman Turkish soldiers Janissary Corps

Georgian warrior in Rusatvelli's Knight in a Panther Skin

finally our Polish and Hungarian hussars who adopted the leopard hides as part of their panoply 

enjoy

Valete

Arabian, Neapolitan & two Turkish steeds

 Salvete Omnes,

I have not posted anything about my Old Poland horse history - 
from time to time I happily peruse the old book by Konstanty Gorski - 'Historya jazdy Polskiej' (History of Polish Cavalry).

The author, officer of the XIX century Russian Imperial army, cited many documents from the illustrious history of the Polish horse of the Old Poland. 

Among them there is a document - muster roll - of the starost of Leczyca winged hussar banner (campany) dated at Brzesc [Brest] - this fortress city was in the middle of the realm then- to June 6, 1580AD (period the o called Livonian War 1577-82-  the huge Polish royal army of king Stefan [Stephen] Bathory was to besiege and capture the Muscovite fortress Wielkie (Vielikiye) Luki while separate commands under Jan Zamoyski, Filon Kmita, Janusz Zbaraski, and Radziwill defeated various commands of tsar Ivan the Terrible and captured his cities and fortresses).

Rotameister starost of Leczyca Krysztof [Krzysztof] Rozrazewski, Doliwa coat of arms, presented his horsemen astride a gniady [bay] Arabian steed, while his romistrz retinue  retainers  stood behind him mounted on his spare mounts:

one plesniawy [ rabicano] Neapolitan steed - a retainer with a long arquebus [rusznica] and with a shield.

one siwy [grey] Turkish steed - a retainer wearing a gilded plate armor.

one cisawy [ chestnut] Turkish steed -  a trumpeter .

Nota bene the ensign holding the company banner was mounted on a czarnocisawy [liver/or dark-chestnut] horse.

Rotameister Rozraszewski. wounded at the castle of Sokol siege early during the same year, returned to the front and was killed  during the siege of Zawolocze on the lake Podsosz, in the Pskov region, on October 10, 1580AD. 

... to be continued

Valete

Parkany II - 9 Ocotober 1683 AD

 Salvete Omnes,

the routed Ottomans' fatal crossing of the river Danube - detail from a painting by Pierre-Denis Martin

today we celebrate the anniversary of the second battle of Parkany - 9th October 1683AD.

on the left bank the fortress of Parkany or today's Sturovo in Slovakia opposite Gran in Hungary

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Parkany II was mostly a cavalry battle, roughly some 30-plus thousands on each side, although some sources say 15-plus thousands of cavalry and 1000 Janissary on the Ottoman side. The Ottomans had a camp with supply train with the swamped banks of Hron river behind them.

Victorious engagement for the armies of  our Polish Crown and Hapsburg Empire against the Ottoman Imperial army commanded by seraskier Kara Mehmed.
Hapsburg army was commanded by prince Charles of Lorraine, husband to the widow of our king Michal Korybut.  Overall command belonged to Jan III.

Winged hussars shock tactics shone in this battle - skillfully managed by our king Jan III. 

Jan III placed prince Charles' forces - infantry and artillery - in the center of the allied army, his left wing under hetman Stanislaw Jan Jablonowski, and the right wing under Hieronim Augustyn Lubomirski, here also was the command post of king Jan III.  Around noon the allied army advanced and came up to the enemy lines, about 1,5km from the Parkany fortress. Then the Ottoman forces attacked furiously and charged, mostly the left wing, according to Dupont, king's secretary, at least ten times they charge, but the center was protected by the portable devices known as cheval de frise, while Jablonowski counterattacked with his Polish cavalry supported by the Imperial cuirassiers.  King's left wing moved forward breaking the right wing of the Ottomans and causing panic that ended in a rout. Most panicked Ottoman cavalry then tried to swim the Danube, a huge river at this juncture, and drowned in process. Serskier Kara Mehmed did save himself but his command was destroyed. 
The battle resulted in a complete annihilation of the Ottoman army - depriving the sultan  of his best sipahi cavalry. 

Pierre-Denis Martin's full canvass showing the battle

Altomonte also painted  this monumental canvass - 

Parkany frieze from  the royal Wilanow Castle

Monument to king Jan III Sobieski in Sturovo

ps.
there are some interesting primary sources to this engagement, including three Ottoman chroniclers. 

enjoy

Valete